"Understood." Danzo's response came flat and emotionless.
Without further discussion, he turned and departed, his cane tapping a steady rhythm against the ground.
Moments earlier, Hiruzen had been whispering privately with Danzo. Jiraiya had wisely refrained from interrupting that conversation. Now that Danzo had left, Jiraiya approached Hiruzen directly. "I want to know detailed information about Naruto. Everything relevant."
"Weren't you assigned as Naruto's instructor?" Hiruzen shot Jiraiya a sharp look, his tone carrying mild rebuke. "Get to know him gradually through personal interaction. That approach will enhance your relationship far better than me simply telling you everything secondhand."
"That's... actually a good point." Jiraiya acknowledged the wisdom in Hiruzen's suggestion. Learning about Naruto organically while building their relationship would probably yield better results than receiving a dry intelligence briefing.
Soon afterward, Hiruzen dismissed all the Konoha jonin who'd gathered to observe the aftermath. Among those quietly retreating was Orochimaru, who slipped away without drawing attention.
Naruto carried Gaara directly back to his farm, placing the unconscious boy in the guest lounge to rest and recover properly.
Meanwhile, Sasuke and the other friends congregated in the yard, their conversation buzzing with energy. Everyone kept revisiting the battle between Naruto and Gaara, discussing every dramatic moment with enthusiasm. The talk naturally shifted to speculation: what would happen if THEY got involved in a fight of that magnitude?
The conclusion was unanimous and sobering: with their current strength levels, getting caught in such a battle would mean certain death. No question whatsoever.
When Naruto emerged from the lounge, Sasuke immediately approached. A subtle smile played at the corner of his mouth. "Miss Tsukisha Hime is waiting for you to visit her at the hotel, by the way."
Mentioning Tsukisha Hime, Sasuke couldn't suppress internal amusement. He genuinely hoped Naruto would go to the hotel and visit Orochimaru under that feminine pseudonym. The potential comedy was too delicious to ignore.
Sasuke's reminder triggered Naruto's memory. He HAD told Tsukisha-san that once he finished making friends, he'd visit her at the hotel to check on her recovery.
"Tsukisha Hime? When did Naruto-kun meet someone by that name?" Hinata stepped forward at that moment, her voice carrying curious concern.
Before Naruto could respond, Sasuke rushed to answer with suspicious enthusiasm. "Miss Tsukisha Hime is someone Naruto just met this morning! Before heading to the village entrance, he accidentally knocked her down. She twisted her ankle badly. So Naruto promised that after making friends, he'd visit to check on her condition."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed with mischief. "Hinata, let me tell you—Miss Tsukisha Hime is a traveler from outside the village. And she's extraordinarily beautiful."
Naruto glanced at Sasuke with mild exasperation. Why does it matter to YOU whether Tsukisha-san is beautiful or not?
"Let's go. Which hotel is she staying at, Sasuke? Just take me there." Naruto figured Gaara would remain unconscious for a while longer. He'd promised Tsukisha-san he'd visit, and Naruto never broke his word.
"I... I'll come too... if that's okay? Naruto-kun..." Hinata recalled Sasuke's narrowed, knowing expression moments earlier. The words burst out before she could stop them. The instant her request left her mouth, Hinata felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"Of course you can come." Since Hinata wanted to accompany him, Naruto saw no reason to refuse her company.
However, his other friends—Choji, Lee, and several others—remained at the farm. As their host, simply abandoning them would be tremendously rude. Fortunately, with Shino present, everything would be fine. The boy had a gift for keeping groups entertained.
Thinking this, Naruto called Shino over. "Shino, Sasuke, Hinata, and I need to visit someone at a hotel briefly. We'll return soon. Could you please take care of things here? Make sure everyone's comfortable. We'll all have lunch together when I get back."
"No problem, Naruto! Don't worry, leave everything to me." Shino immediately thumped his chest in assurance. Creating lively atmosphere and making guests feel welcome? For him, this was genuinely trivial work. His specialty, even.
"Thanks, Shino. You're absolutely our group's most reliable entertainer." After expressing gratitude, Naruto departed with Sasuke and Hinata toward the hotel.
Watching Naruto's retreating back, Shino sighed internally. If possible, who would actually WANT to be everyone's designated mood-maker?
After dwelling on that melancholy thought briefly, Shino plastered a bright smile across his face. He rejoined the gathered friends and immediately began working to enliven the atmosphere with jokes and conversation.
"Naruto, this is the hotel where Miss Tsukisha Hime is staying." Sasuke stopped at the building's entrance, gesturing toward the modest establishment.
"Alright, which room? Lead me there." Naruto moved toward the door.
"Actually, no." Sasuke waved his hand dismissively. "You go up alone. Hinata and I will wait down here."
Since Sasuke didn't want to accompany him, Naruto couldn't force the issue. After asking for Tsukisha Hime's room number, Naruto glanced at Hinata. She looked like she wanted to say something but couldn't quite form the words. He decided not to press and headed into the hotel alone.
"Don't worry too much, Hinata." Seeing Hinata's obviously nervous expression, Sasuke offered what comfort he could.
"I... I'm not worried..." Hinata immediately ducked her head, her neck flushing bright red. She WAS somewhat worried, truthfully. But standing here at the hotel entrance, she felt her concerns were probably unnecessary. Probably.
Naruto climbed to the appropriate floor and located Tsukisha Hime's room. He knocked gently on the door, his voice carrying through the wood. "Miss Tsukisha Hime, are you inside? It's Naruto. I came to visit as promised."
"Naruto-kun has come!" Tsukisha Hime's delighted voice emerged from within the room. Footsteps approached. The door opened to reveal her standing there in silky pajamas that revealed slender, shapely legs. She smiled warmly. "Please, come inside, Naruto-kun."
Naruto observed her sleepwear with visible awkwardness. "I didn't realize you were sleeping, Miss Tsukisha. I apologize for the intrusion."
"You're not intruding at all." After Naruto entered, Orochimaru closed the door behind him. The lock clicked with definitive finality. His voice took on a sultry quality. "I've been eagerly anticipating Naruto-kun's arrival."
Orochimaru glanced at Naruto with open expectation. Today I'll definitely succeed in obtaining samples. Then I can return to my research with the materials I need.
Committing to this plan, Orochimaru walked to Naruto's side. He reached out to take Naruto's hand with deliberate slowness. "Naruto-kun, please sit down."
He pulled Naruto toward the bed, guiding him to sit on the mattress.
Seeing where this was heading, Naruto quickly and naturally extracted his hand from Orochimaru's grip. He settled on the very edge of the bed, maintaining maximum distance. "I can sit by myself, thank you."
Watching Naruto seat himself properly, Orochimaru felt no particular rush. This boy is clearly inexperienced. I need to take a gradual approach.
Orochimaru sat down beside Naruto, closing some of the distance. "Naruto-kun, did you finish making all your friends?"
"Yes, everything's complete." Naruto nodded. He turned his head to look at Orochimaru directly.
Then he immediately stood up, his expression shifting to genuine shock. "Miss Tsukisha, what are you doing?! Please put your clothes back on properly!"
The pajama top had somehow come completely undone.
"Naruto-kun, am I not beautiful?" Orochimaru's tongue traced slowly across his lips, the gesture calculated and deliberate.
"You're beautiful, but I already have someone I care for deeply." Naruto's voice carried absolute firmness, no hesitation whatsoever.
"Really? But Naruto-kun, doesn't this make things more exciting?" Orochimaru's smile widened. "Since you want excitement, why not follow through completely?"
Without further preamble, Orochimaru lunged forward, attempting to embrace Naruto.
Thump.
Looking down at the unconscious Orochimaru, Naruto released a breath of profound relief. His strike had been slightly heavy perhaps, but Orochimaru would only remain knocked out temporarily. No permanent damage.
Naruto grabbed the quilt, rolled Orochimaru up in it like a burrito, and deposited the bundle on the bed. Then he departed directly, not looking back.
Stepping outside into the hallway, Naruto closed the door firmly behind him. He exhaled a long, shaky breath. His eyes lifted to check the room number mounted on the door.
Room 237
Naruto startled slightly at the coincidence, then immediately departed down the hallway. Not found indeed.
Walking through the corridor, Naruto remembered Miss Tsukisha's aggressive behavior moments ago. His face flushed slightly red despite himself. He made an unconscious gesture of adjustment, trying to compose himself before descending the stairs.
"How did it go, Naruto? Is Miss Tsukisha Hime alright?" Seeing Naruto's reddened face, Sasuke asked with poorly concealed curiosity.
"She's fine. Miss Tsukisha is perfectly healthy." Naruto's response came quickly, perhaps too quickly. "Let's head back now. Gaara might wake up soon, and I need to be there to look after him."
After speaking, Naruto immediately began walking, taking the lead.
Sasuke followed behind, his mind working. Something definitely happened up there. Otherwise, why would Naruto be blushing like that?
Hinata harbored similar thoughts to Sasuke, but she absolutely didn't dare voice the question aloud. Her imagination was probably running wild anyway.
Though truthfully, both were overthinking the situation. What could Naruto possibly have done in less than one minute?
The answer, of course, was knock someone unconscious and flee in profound discomfort.